One person: Starting with the Snow Drinking Blade

Feng Baobao deftly screwed the cap on the Erguotou bottle, and then… no one knew how she did it, but with a flick of her wrist, the bottle disappeared into her wide sleeve (or perhaps some mysterious space within her body). She stood up and clapped her hands: “Let’s go. Go over there and bury them all.”

"...Sister Bao'er, we live in a civilized society. We should be reasonable. If you can use words, try not to use your hands. If you can use your hands...don't bury people all the time." Nie Lingfeng corrected him with a bit of a headache.

Feng Baobao blinked, seemed to think for a moment, and then changed her mind: "Then... knock him out?"

"That's fine." Nie Lingfeng nodded. "Knock them out and hand them over to the company."

Ignoring the ongoing bonfire party and the unfortunate fellow trying to pull himself out of the grass, the two silently blended into the darkness at the edge of the lawn, like two drops of water merging into an ink sea, quickly and stealthily disappearing into the depths of the forest.

The deeper you go into the forest, the dimmer the light becomes. The dense canopy of trees almost completely blocks out the already sparse moonlight, with only scattered spots of light filtering through the gaps to outline the jagged shadows of the trees. Insects chirp and the night wind whistles through the woods, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

The chilling, pure killing intent in the air grew clearer and stronger as they ventured deeper. Like a tangible chill, it clung to their skin, sending shivers down their spines.

When Nie Lingfeng reached a relatively open and flat clearing in the woods, he stopped. The moonlight was slightly brighter here, allowing him to barely see anything within a ten-meter radius.

He turned to face the pitch-black forest, and spoke calmly, breaking the deathly silence of the woods:

"Come out. Aren't you tired of following me for so long, hiding like this? If you have something to say, why not come out and say it face to face?"

His voice carried far through the silent forest, carrying a peculiar penetrating power.

After a brief silence, a very faint rustling sound, like the rustling of withered leaves, came from the depths of the darkness.

Immediately afterwards, dark figures, as if peeled from the shadows, slowly and silently appeared from behind the thick tree trunks, from the dense bushes, and even from the drooping branches.

There were thirteen people in total.

They were all dressed in tight-fitting black suits, their faces veiled with black scarves, revealing only pairs of eyes that gleamed coldly in the darkness. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, their steps as light as felines, landing silently as they quickly dispersed, forming a loose semi-circular encirclement that blocked the direction Nie Lingfeng and Feng Baobao had come from, as well as any possible escape routes on either side. Each person held a short blade, less than a foot long, its blade reflecting an ominous blue light in the occasional slivers of moonlight—clearly coated with deadly poison.

The thirteen people stood there silently, like thirteen lifeless black statues, with only a chilling killing intent permeating the air.

But their appearance seemed to be just the prelude.

A series of extremely faint yet uniquely rhythmic footsteps came from the deeper darkness.

A figure slowly walked out.

She was also dressed in black, but unlike the other assassins in black, she wore a well-tailored, high-quality black outfit that accentuated her tall, curvaceous figure. A thin, gossamer-like black veil covered most of her face, revealing only a pair of eyes that, though bright in the darkness, were as cold as an eternally frozen pool. Her long hair was styled into a simple, neat bun at the back of her head, secured with an ebony hairpin.

As she appeared, the thirteen assassins in black bowed slightly, their posture becoming even more respectful, and silently made way for her, demonstrating her absolute leadership.

The woman in black stopped about five zhang away from Nie Lingfeng. Her cold eyes, like two scalpels, carefully and inch by inch scraped across Nie Lingfeng's face, finally settling on his calm and unwavering eyes.

"You are Nie Lingfeng?" Her voice rang out, its tone cold and flat, without the slightest emotional fluctuation, like icicles frozen under the eaves in winter.

"It's me," Nie Lingfeng readily admitted, while also sizing up the other person. Although he couldn't see their face clearly, their eyes were beautiful, with long eyelashes and pure black pupils, but the chill within them was enough to freeze one's heart. "And you are?"

"Who I am is unimportant," the woman said indifferently. "What matters is that you crippled my brother's cultivation, severed his foundation for cultivation, and publicly humiliated my Wang family patriarch. Tell me... shouldn't I settle this score with you?"

Upon hearing this, Nie Lingfeng understood.

A member of the Wang family. Moreover, a direct relative of Wang Bing. To be able to mobilize these elite assassins, she must possess extraordinary aura. She is probably Wang Ai's granddaughter or a highly valued descendant.

He curled his lip, a hint of helplessness in his voice: "Hey, you...friends from the Wang family? Can't you come up with a little more creative way to get revenge? You always pick these dark, stormy nights to ambush me, it's so old-fashioned. Can't you just wait until I finish my match tomorrow in peace, and then settle things properly in some other way?"

"A match?" The woman seemed to have heard something utterly ridiculous. Although the corners of her mouth beneath her veil didn't seem to twitch, the mockery and coldness in her eyes intensified. "You think you still have a chance to stand on the stage tomorrow?"

She stopped talking and gently raised her right hand, making a simple gesture.

"Take him down. Dead or alive, it doesn't matter."

The moment the last word was uttered, the thirteen assassins in black made their move!

Without a shout, without any unnecessary movements, the thirteen men moved like puppets on a single string, or like a perfectly coordinated machine, suddenly launching into action! They advanced in three groups: five in the center launched a frontal assault, while four on each flank flanked them, moving with ghostly speed and seamless teamwork, instantly sealing off all possible escape routes and retreat paths for Nie Lingfeng and Feng Baobao! Each person's poisoned dagger sliced ​​through the air, accompanied by a subtle yet deadly whistle, aiming for the two men's vital points!

Nie Lingfeng sighed and said to Feng Baobao, who was already getting ready, "Sister Baobao, it seems there's no point in reasoning with her. How about we do some light exercise to help digest our food?"

"Yes, I will." Feng Baobao nodded, her eyes instantly becoming focused and... indifferent, as if what was in front of her was not a group of fierce killers, but a pile of obstacles that needed to be cleared.

The two moved almost at the same instant!

This time, Nie Lingfeng didn't use the Wind God Kick, known for its speed, nor did he employ the powerful and domineering Cloud Dispelling Palm. Facing these well-coordinated assassins wielding poisoned blades, he chose the Heavenly Frost Fist, which offered greater control and wider coverage.

He wanted to test how much the extreme cold of the Heavenly Frost Fist could restrict and kill these swift and coordinated assassins.

Heavenly Frost Fist, Second Form: Covered in Frost Marks!

Nie Lingfeng unleashed both fists simultaneously, not targeting any one individual, but rather aimed at the area where the five assassins charging towards him were located! Wherever the fists passed, a chilling white tide surged forth as if it were tangible! Moisture in the air instantly condensed into countless fine ice crystals, and the temperature plummeted!

The three assassins at the forefront were the first to be hit! They felt an irresistible chill instantly invade their limbs and bones, as if their blood was about to freeze, their muscles stiffened, and their joints became sluggish. Their originally swift and agile movements suddenly became slow and clumsy, as if they were stuck in an invisible quagmire! At the same time, horror flashed in their eyes. They wanted to change their moves or retreat, but their bodies would no longer obey their commands!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Nie Lingfeng's figure approached like a ghost, landing three simple yet powerful punches precisely on the chests of the three men. Before they could even scream, they were sent flying like kites with broken strings, crashing heavily into a large tree behind them. As they slid to the ground, their bodies were covered in a thin layer of frost, and they curled up, trembling, completely incapacitated for a short time.

Feng Baobao's fighting style was more direct and violent. She didn't even draw her signature kitchen knife, relying solely on her seemingly slender fists.

Her movements lacked the overwhelming force of Nie Lingfeng's attacks, possessing only a simple and efficient approach. Facing the poisoned dagger coming from the side, she neither dodged nor evaded, but simply took a step to the side and forward, perfectly avoiding the blade tip, while simultaneously delivering a punch to the wrist of the opponent holding the knife!

"Crack!" A clear sound of bone breaking.

The assassin let out a miserable groan, and his short blade flew out of his hand. Feng Baobao's other hand shot out like lightning, grabbed his collar, and flung him to the side. The man was then slammed into another charging companion like a sandbag, and the two rolled into a heap.

Another assassin attacked from behind, his blade aimed straight for Feng Baobao's back. As if she had eyes in the back of her head, Feng Baobao didn't even turn around. With a swift back kick, her toe precisely struck the nerve in the assassin's elbow, the one holding the knife. The assassin's entire arm instantly went numb and powerless, and the knife fell to the ground. Feng Baobao spun around, delivering a swift and decisive chop to his neck, knocking him unconscious.

Her movements were fluid and effortless, each strike precisely hitting her opponent's most vulnerable and critical points—joints, pressure points, or leverage points. Seven or eight assassins surrounded her, their blades flashing, yet they couldn't even touch the hem of her clothes. Instead, they fell one after another like harvested wheat, some with dislocated arms, others with broken legs, and still others simply unconscious.

In less than ten seconds, eight of the thirteen elite assassins in black had completely lost their fighting ability, lying on the ground groaning in pain or unconscious. The remaining five stopped in shock, surrounding the woman in black, their hands holding knives trembling slightly, their eyes filled with fear as they looked at Nie Lingfeng and Feng Baobao.

The woman in black's eyes grew even colder, and her veil seemed to flutter slightly in response to her icy aura.

"A bunch of useless trash," she muttered under her breath, her voice still cold but carrying a hint of barely perceptible anger.

She no longer relied on her subordinates, and reached her right hand to her slender waist, untying a peculiar item.

It was a pen.